Coming2Israel.com - Hotels / Resorts / Hostels In Israel Primer

  There are a wide range of places to stay in Israel.  From the big world wide chain hotels to quaint bed and breakfast boutique hotels and “Tzimerim” to youth hostels located throughout the country. These days, due to foreign tourism and business travelers, and the fact that Israelis love to travel and spend a night out of their own home, hotels can be fairly busy and rates on the higher side, compared to other destinations.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to listings for places to stay in Israel.

Some Tips And Advice:

1)  Let them (the hotel or other, that you are staying at) know when you are arriving...

If you are planning a trip to Israel, we recommend booking and confirming your reservation as soon as possible and also confirming your stay a few days before you arrive.  If you are arriving at an odd hour of the day, you should let your hotel know when you will arrive so they will hold the room for you.  This can be especially important if you have booked a room on a certain day, but you arrive early in the morning on the following day, and just wanted the hotel to keep the room for your late arrival.

2)  You should Know Where You Are Going...

It is also wise to know exactly which hotel you will be staying at and where it is.  Some of the bigger chain hotels can have multiple properties within the same city and even on the same street.   This is especially crucial when you are arriving from the airport and taking a taxi to your hotel.  If you were to tell the driver that you needed to go to the ABC hotel, and they have two or more locations in the city, he will take you to the one that he knows about, which may or may not be the hotel that you have booked and are staying at.    

3)  Be ready to present... 

ID - Non-Israeli citizens must show a valid passport and their current entry visa... When you arrive at the hotel for check-in, you will usually be asked to present you passport and, if you are a foreign traveler, your entrance visa given to you at your port of entry.  Since early in 2013, Israel is no longer ink stamping passports with the entrance visa.  Travelers coming to Israel will receive a bluish/white card, a card that is a little smaller than a business card with your identification information, and a copy of your passport details and picture.  This is your visa.  It is an official government document and even thought the staff at the airport or other ports of entry don\t really tell you anything to know about it, we recommend that you do not throw it away and guard it as you would your passport yourself.  If by chance, you do lose it, you will still be allowed to leave the country, but as we have already mentioned, it is an official document.  It is better not to loose it.

4)  Room guarantee / deposit... a credit card is best...

And, of course you will need to have a credit card or cash to cover the deposit guarantee for your stay.  Hotels usually want to block an amount covering all the nights of your stay at the hotel, plus an extra amount to cover any incidental charges that you may incur.  We recommend using the same credit card for deposit as you would be using for payment.  In this way, when you make the payment at the time of checkout, the block that was made at check-in will be canceled and transferred to being the payment.

4.1)  Cash deposit?  Be warned...

If you wish to leave cash for your deposit, you should know that in some hotels, this may limit services that you can charge to your room as you will be considered to be on a cash basis with the hotel.  You may not be able to use the phones or mini-bar in your room.  And if you leave cash for your deposit, you need to check with your hotel how the unused portion of your deposit will be returned to you.  If, for example, you leave US dollars as a deposit, some hotels will only return the equivalent to you in Israeli currency - Shekels.  Check with the hotel before you leave any cash with them on exactly what their policy is.

5)  Services and Items Used in Hotels... Always better to ask FIRST:

Travelers to Israel should also pay attention to and know how they are charged for extra services in the hotel.  You should know what the hotel prices are for using the mini-bar or hotel phones to call within the Israel and abroad.  Israeli hotels often charge different rates for calls made within Israel compared to calls made abroad.  The hotel could charge you a mini-bar rental fee if you are using the mini-bar for cooling your own food or drink, even if you do not consume any items from the mini-bar itself.  This charge could be a single charge for your entire stay, or a daily rental fee.  And if you are checking prices lists for mini-bar items or laundry services, pay attention to what currency the prices are listed as.  What may seem like a great deal at the time. because you assumed the rates were listed in shekels, may not be so great when you go to pay your bill and realize that they rates were not Shekels, but in US dollars, for example.  As always, you should ask before you use a services of the hotel.   Room service could add a tray fee which, by the way, goes to the hotel directly, and is not considered to be a tip.

6)  Need a late check out or and early arrival?  Be prepared to pay...

If the hotel is not completely booked, or near fill occupancy, and you happen to need an early arrival or a later check-out, ask at the front desk, chances are the only way you will get it is by paying for another night.  But they may surprise you, and let you stay at no additional charge. All these things aside, most hotels are wonderful places with great people working there that will go out of their way to make sure that the time you spend with them will be as pleasant as possible.  The concierge desk can assist you with things outside the hotel - getting a taxicab, arranging tours, booking tickets for events or simply getting directions to somewhere that you need to go.  And if someone working at the hotel was extra special with their assistance to you, get their name and fill out a comment card commending them for what they did.  Likewise if there were some problems you should let the hotel know as well. The best advise that we can offer is simply this: Don’t be shy:  When in doubt, ask.  If you need help or want to better understand something, you should ask.  If something is or wasn’t right, or could be improved, tell someone.  Don’t wait until the end of your stay either.  Israelis really do like to help people, so don’t be afraid to give them the chance to.  

Places to stay in Israel:

So, which places to stay at?: Places to stay in the North of Israel Places to stay in the Center of Israel Places to stay in Jerusalem, Israel Places to stay in Tel Aviv, Israel Places to stay in the South of Israel Places to stay in Eilat, Israel

Have we Missed Something???

Or, do you have any questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please contact us from the menu button at the top of the page. And, if we have been helpful, please give us a Like on Facebook. Thank you!